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The Benefits of Music Education

Did you know learning how to play an instrument can boost your child’s performance in school? This post was written in conjunction with our partner, Live Music Tutor. Click here to learn more about how you can easily and affordably teach your child an instrument with Live Music Tutor, or click here to download a coupon for 20% off your first lesson.

Getting your child involved in an extra-curricular activity is one of the easiest aspects of a well-rounded education that can be overlooked. One of the most beneficial extra-curricula activities that all parents should explore are music lessons. While many schools let children experiment with band in upper-elementary, teaching music or mastery of an instrument to kids is something that can be started as early as teaching reading.

Brain Development

While it’s unrealistic to expect that a young learner will be mastering the guitar by age 8, teaching the foundation of music to kids is beneficial in areas that you might not have expected. According to an article on PBS, there are many benefits to teaching music to kids at a young age. One reason being that playing music teaches a child to use many different parts of their brain and body at the same time.

Developing the skill to recognize and reproduce songs is one of the best ways to strengthen the left side of the brain. Children who start learning about music around the time they start learning how to read in elementary school will have a much easier time with both. The parts of the brain that are related to language and reasoning are the same parts that are linked to music theory.

Motor Skills & Hand-Eye Coordination

One additional benefit to teaching music to kids is the fact that they can develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Musical instruments are great at providing instant feedback on one’s performance. A child will instantly know if they hit the right note at the right time because they can immediately hear their result.

Discipline

Musical instruments are great at providing instant feedback on one’s performance. A child will instantly know if they hit the right note at the right time because they can immediately hear their result. Studying music is not like studying math or history, where memorization of facts is the key, but rather hours and hours of practice is what makes a musician truly great. Students who start practicing early and often will see the fruit of their labor, and learn that investing time in a skill is necessary for success.

Memorization

One of the biggest parts of early learning is memorization. When it comes to things like sight words, phonics, mathematic formulas, and operations – memorization is key. It also just so happens that one of the most fun ways to develop memorization also happens to be music. There are many aspects of music that teach memorization. From the different scales, to the notes and chords, to what goes into each song, there are tons of ways that memorization skills are strengthened through a musical education. And when children become better at memorization in music, they become better at memorization of all things.

These benefits are not just theoretical, as there is plenty of evidence backing them up. According to Spread Music Now, a report by the College Entrance Examination Board found that students who were in a music program “scored 63 points higher on the verbal and 44 points higher on the math sections of the SATs than students with no music participation.” And according to another report by the U.S. House of Representatives, “Students who participate in school band or orchestra have the lowest levels of current and lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs among any group in our society.”

Socialization

One of the most beautiful things about music is the fact that it brings people together – not only to enjoy but also to play! Music is a great way to get a child involved with other kids in a fun and organized way. Playing in a band is a great after-school activity that might not lead to a contract with a major record label, but very easily can create life-long friendships. Being in a band also creates an atmosphere of teamwork. Students will do what they can to not only succeed themselves but also help others rise to any challenges that come their way.

Self-Expression

Teaching music to kids is the fact that it provides a safe and fun outlet for self-expression. While many children do not begin developing a drive to creatively express themselves until the later elementary / middle school years, gifting them the outlet of creating their own music early is a gift that they will appreciate for many years. Having an artistic outlet to express themselves is essential for children.

The list of why teaching music to kids in their elementary years is almost endless, as it is a fun, challenging and highly beneficial activity that almost everyone can enjoy. But parents face more than a few challenges when trying to find a music instructor for their child. The instructor may be a long drive from your home that cuts into evening family-time, they may not teach the instrument your child is interested in learning, or you may not feel safe dropping your child off with an instructor you don’t know.

Enter, Live Music Tutor. Live Music Tutor provides interactive online music lessons to children and adults of all ages. Live Music Tutor is also currently supplementing music education curriculum in school districts in the US. Choose from among the world’s best instructors that will teach you or your child to play an instrument from the comfort of your own home in an energetic, safe and proven teaching environment. Learn 24/7 on ANY instrument (including voice) via group or individual lessons. Click here to learn more about Live Music Tutor or download this 20% off coupon for your first lesson!

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